St. Charles council delays decision on overriding ordinance to veil complainants

St. Charles Parish Council members on Monday put off a vote on whether to override Parish President V.J. St. Pierre's veto of an ordinance forbidding parish employees from releasing information about residents who complain about high grass and other building code violations. The measure, approved 5-4 on July 23, would require residents wanting that information to file a public records request to get it.

St. Pierre Jr. vetoed the measure last week, saying the enforcement would be burdensome on parish employees.

The measure would affect complaints about high grass, junk cars and dilapidated buildings that are illegal under the code.

Hogan argued that having parish employees freely give out information on complaintants would cause tension between neighbors.